“Thank the gods. I do too.” It was the first time Rob ever referenced anything but the Christian God. He knew Suniti noticed because she smiled. He found it easier than he expected. He would never renounce his faith entirely. It was engrained too deeply from childhood, and he believed it to be the truth. But he would open his mind and his heart to his wife’s belief. Anything that would bring them closer.
He eased back before surging forward, the tempo slow as he withdrew and pressed. Her hips rose to receive each thrust. Her hands found the divots on his hips, a place to grip and encourage him to continue. Her eyes drifted closed as she concentrated of each sensation.
“Let me see you as you climax, my love.”
Suniti’s eyes fluttered open as she felt a familiar tightening in her core. Rob’s pace increased along with the force with which he pounded into her. The faster and harder he surged between her thighs, the louder her moans grew. She cared not who might hear. The sound encouraged Rob and brought her more pleasure. They burst into the fabled ecstasy together, clinging to one another as they shuddered. Rob rolled onto his back, bringing her along with him. She lay sprawled across him.
“I love you, my darling.” Suniti stretched to kiss her husband’s cheek.
“Just as I love you, sweetling.” Rob pressed a kiss to her shoulder. They lay together until Rob’s body no longer cooperated with their desire. They soon drifted to sleep.
Chapter Seven
A week, then a fortnight passed after Suniti and Rob’s unexpected pronouncement. Suniti saw her husband when he returned to the palace after spending a full day at work. They spent each night making love, falling asleep for a few hours before they rose and repeated the routine. She filled her day with planning her wedding. Once calm returned to the Singh household, the urgency to hold the Brahma lessened. Her parents were far more supportive than she ever imagined.
They watched every moment Rob was in their presence. He was kind to the servants, and attentive to Chandra and Surat. But they were most reassured when they caught moments between the newlyweds that the couple believed were private. It was the way he greeted her in the evening. The way he listened attentively to details about a wedding he didn’t understand. He asked insightful questions that showed Chandra he accepted their customs. Rob’s attentiveness reassured Surat. The young man was that way, even when he believed no one watched.
But it was Theo and Vinita who watched the newlyweds and her parents. They wished for any opportunity that they might stage their indecencies. Sarla and Will seemed in less of a hurry, but that was because her father admitted he hadn’t begun any negotiations for Sarla’s marriage. Vinita slipped away whenever she could to see Theo. He hurried through his duties, ensuring he was always waiting outside the palace walls. He knew Sarla and Suniti made excuses when anyone searched for Vinita or asked about her. She was sleeping late, taking a nap, walking through the gardens. Anything that distracted her parents. They believed her sulking about her impending nuptials to the Jodhpur prince.
“I barely made it away from camp tonight, Nita. We can’t sneak around much longer. Someone will catch us, and I’m likely to wind up castrated rather than married to you. I don’t agree with you leaving your home without guards either, even during the day.”
“I know, but what else can we do?”
Neither had an answer to the question they asked every day. Darkness had fallen by the time Vinita slipped away. They held hands at night, unworried that anyone would see. They didn’t venture far from the palace, only far enough for privacy. They sat together and shared stories about their childhoods and what they wished for their future together.
“Nita, I received a response to my missive. They’ll allow me to remain here indefinitely. My leadership alongside Will’s and Rob’s has pleased my superiors. But I must go back to England when my father dies. I cannot abandon my obligations. As is, every missive from my parents bemoans me being away.”
“Should we visit?”
“Are you willing to go to England so soon?”
“Would you travel without me?”
“Absolutely not, Nita. I do not want to be apart from you that long. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here when I’m not convinced your father will accept our marriage.”
“You wouldn’t return to England and stay? Won’t your parents expect you to marry someone of their choosing?”
“Yes, to the second, but I will only stay if you are with me. And since I’m not traveling without you, then you have nothing to fear. Once you are my wife, Nita, you will be for life. There is no putting you aside for a supposedly real marriage. Our marriage will be real regardless of what anyone thinks. I wish to have a family with you, have you as my partner in everything. Sweetling, you are my equal. I want your opinions and your guidance. I respect them. I—” Theo stepped closer to Vinita, so they could see one another clearly beneath the moonlight. He took her hands in his. “I love you, Nita. I can’t stomach the idea of drawing another breath without you knowing.”
“I love you too.”
Theo wrapped his arms around her waist and brought his mouth to hers. They’d held hands and stood with their arms around one another. They’d kissed one another’s cheeks. But they hadn’t shared a passionate kiss. It ignited into an inferno the moment it began. Theo’s hands slid to her backside, squeezing the amble flesh. He lifted her off her feet, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He shifted further into the shadows, pressing her back against the palace’s surrounding wall.
“I will not make love to you until you’re my wife. I care not what type of ceremony we share, as long we are married first.”
“Marrying your whore?”
Theo lowered Vinita to the ground and spun around, his broad frame hiding her from the intruders’ view. Five Company men stood before them, knives drawn.
“Give us a turn. I hear her sister’s a good rut. She and Courtenay are at it the moment they see each other. Let’s find out if this sister is just as fine.”
“You know what happened to the last man who touched my woman.”
A shiver of pleasure ran along Vinita’s spine at the most inopportune moment. But she enjoyed the assertiveness and possessiveness in Theo’s voice. He’d done nothing to make her think he would prevent her from doing the things she wished or would force her to dress a particular way, speak and think a particular way. But it was the second time she’d faced a threat, and it was the second time he’d made it clear she was untouchable.
“There’s five of us this time, and only one of you.”
“There will be no lashings first. This is your only warning that you should return to camp. This will be neither forgiven nor forgotten, but I won’t kill you.”
